Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

SOUTHERN RECORDER. VOL. II. MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1821. No. 19. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, • (ON TUESDAYS) JiY S. GRAXTLAXD ff R• M- ORME, kT THREE DOLLARS* IN ADVANCE, OR FOUR DOLLARS AT THE EXPIRATION OP THE TEAR. O' Advertisement* conspicuously inserted at • tie customary rate*. i ■ ...."BBBgBBgilJ—U-A marched on to Nottingham, and on their arrival found that our Flotilla, whicti they expected to tind there, had moved higher up the river. There seemed to be here some hesitation on the part of the commander, with regard to the fur ther movements of the army, but at 8 o’clock on the 23d, they moved on tow ards Marlborough, distant !l) miles.— During the day they heard several heu- vy explosions, which proceeded from the destruction ot the Flotilla by Com. Bar ney, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. They remained at Marl borough through the night, and until 2 o’clock on the following day. They then moved on, the avowed object being the City of Washington. On coming to the meeting of the Washington and Alexan dria roads, to deceive our commander, they took the direction of Alexandria, and bivouaced for the night at the wood yard. The whole of this march is des cribed with a particularly, which gives CAPTUKE OF WASHINGTON. FROM THE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER. We have seen at the Boston Athen®. iftn, a work just published in London, entitled a Narrative of the Campaigns of the. British Army, at Washington and New-Orleans, in the'years 1814 $ 1815; by an Officer who served in the Expedi tion. The Narrative begins with some account of events in the South of France —some description of the places occupi ed by tbe British army, and the sailing of the expedition from tbe Garonne od the 2d of June. The force of the expedition is thus described :—“ Tbe land army is compos- jit astrdng degree of interest, but we can ed of three battallions of infantry, the not give room for the whole narrative. 4th, 44th and 05th regiments ; the two From this point, however, we copy the former mustering each about 800 bayo- author’s account of the capture of Wash- nets, the last not more than 600. In ad- ington, as this is the first particular ac* dition to these, there are two officers count by the enemy, which we have seen of engineers, a Brigade of artillery, a dc-1 of this memorable exploit, tachment of sappers and miners, and a I “ Having started on tbe 24th, at an party of artillery drivers, with a due pro- early hour, our march was for some portion of officers belonging to the medi- time, both cool and agreeable. The cal and commissariat departments. The road, if road it might be culled, wound for •whole together cannot be computed at the first five miles through the heart of more than2500 men, if indeed it amounts an immense forest, and being, in every to so great a number ; and is under the sense of the word a bye-path, was corn- command of Major General Ross, a very pletely overshadowed by projecting bran- gallant and experienced leader.” ches of trees, so closely interwoven as The fleet consisted of eleven or twelve to prevent a single sunbeam from making (hips of war, with several store ships its way, even at noon, wilhin the arch, and transports. The squadron touched We continued to move on, therefore, at St. Michaels and Bermuda, of each of long after the sun had risen, without be- wbich places the author gives some de- ing sensible that there was not a cloud «cription. At Bermuda they were join- in the sky to screen us from his infill ed by Sir Alexander Cochrane, in an 80 ence ; whilst a heavy moisture contiuu- gdn ship, who took command of the ally emitted from the grass and weeds on fleet, and the 21st regiment of Fusileers, I both sides of us, produced a coolness, of 900 meo, making their whole force which, had it been less confined, woutd 3400 men, besides a corps of blacks have been extremely pleasant. So far tnd the marines. I then, we proceeded without experienc- On the 14th of August they arrived ing any other inconvenience than what off Cape Charles, and on the 18th at the was produqpd bj the damp and foetid at- mouth of the Patuxent. On thi3 day they mosphere which we breathed; but no began to sail up this river, the hanks of sooner had we began to emerge from the which are described by the author as woods, and to enter the open country extremely beautiful. After they had than an overpowering change was per proceeded a few miles up the river, a jeeived. The sun, from which we bad telegraph from the Admiral gave orders I been hitherto defended, now beat upon for the troops to be in readiness to land I us in full force ; and the dust rising in At a moment’s notice. Every thing was I thick masses from under our feet, with- prepared ; provisions for three days out a breath of air to disperse it, flew di- ,were cooked and given to each man—the rectly into our faces, occasioning the srms and accoutrements were handed j greatest inconvenience both to the eyes out, and the cartouch boxes supplied and respiration. 1 have stated this to with fresh ammunition.—The fleet con-(you, at length, because 1 do not recol- tinued to move on until 10 leagues from] lect a period of my life when I suffered (occupied by the American forces and the the bay, when the ships of the line began more severely from heat and fatigue ‘; to touch the ground, and in a little while and as a journey of a few miles, qnder after the frigates could proceed no far- such circumstances, teMs more than one ther. By this time the sun was set and of thrice the distance in a cool day, and it began to grow dark. The soldiers bfe- along a firm wintry road, you cannot iron ing shifted to the smaller vessels, all rC- der that before many hours had elapsed, mained quiet for the night. As soon as numbers of men began to fall behind, the dawn began to appear on the 19th all from absolute inability to keep up. was in motion. A gun brig had taken Yet in spite of all this, there was that in her station within 150 yards of the vil- to-day’s march which rendered it infinite- Jage of Benedict, under cover of which ly more interesting than any we had per- the troops were landed. The whole formed since the landing. We had learn- was completed without accident, by 3 cd from various quarters, that the enemy o’clock in the afternoon. Every pre- was concentrating his forces, for the paration was made to resist any attack, purpose of hazarding a battle in defence but none was made. The afternoon of his capital. The truth of these ru- was devoted to a distribution of the force, moursweha' 1 no cause to doubt, confirm- which was divided into three brigades, ed as they were by what we had ourselves The whole number of men landed, in- witnessed only the evening before, and cludin" sailors to drag the artillery, and the aspect of various fields on each side persons of every description, amounted of the high road (which we had regained) to 4500 men. No artillery was landed where smoking ashes, bundles of straw, except one six pounder, and two small and remnants of broken victuals were three pounders, for want of horses to scattered about, indicated that cnnsidera- dra _ t hem. There was not a horse in ble bodies of troops had passed the night 11)8°army except those of the General in this neighborhood. The appearance and the staff officers. Orders, however, of the road itself likewise, imprinted as were given to take all the horses they it was, with fresh marks of many feet .could find and during the march, 50 or and hoofs, proved that these troops could 60 were taken, and a cavalry corps was be no great way before us ; whilst our formed The army was posted on a very proximity to Washington, being dis- Li.rht at a distance of two miles from tanl from it not more than ten or twelve the river and the most cautious arrange- miles, all tended to assure us that we inents were made, to guard against sur- should at least sec an American army be- ; _... ise The troops were tinder arms on fore dark. ihe 20th an hoar before day light, but “ It was now that we experienced the ♦her”remained on the ground until 4 o’- great usefulness of our badly mounted clock in the afternoon. troopers, or as they were called by the I c . , he ,t, e . in (j me it was rumoured that private soldiers cossncks; J he country, the American Flotilla was the object of from being extremely close, had become eight and sent out in different directions to reconnoitre, two of them generally taking post at every suspicious corner, that one might give notice to the column, while the other watched the motion* of the enemy. “ It so happened that these precau tions were unnecessary, for whatever might be the strength of the Americans in cavalry, their General did not think fit to employ it in harrassing our march. But the very knowledge that they could not be attacked without having time to make ready, gave to the soldiers a de gree of steady confidence, which they would otherwise have wnoted ; and the want of which, had the case been differ ent, might have been productive of dis order, at a time when good order was of vilal importance. We had now proceeded about nine miles, during the lust part of which the sun’s rays had beat continually upon us, and we had inhaled almost as great a quantity of dust as of air. Numbers of men had already fallen to the rear, and many more could with difficulty keep up ; consequently, if we pushed on much further without resting, the chances were that at least one half ol the army would be left behind. To prevent this, and to give time for the stragglers to o- vertake the column, u halt was deter mined upon, and being led forward to a spot of ground, well wooded and water- 1 ed by a stream which crossed the road, the troops were ordered to refresh them selves. Perhaps no halt ever arrived more seasonably than this, or bid fair to be productive of more beneficial effects ; and yet so oppressive was the heat, that we had not resumed our inaiCh above an hour, when the banks by the way side were again covered with stragglers; some of the finest and stoutest men, in the ar my, being literally unable to go. “ The hour of noon was approaching, when a heavy cloud of dust, apparently not more than two or three miles distant, attracted our attention. From whence it originated there was little difficulty in guessing, nor did many minutes expire, before surmise was changed to certainty; for on turning a sudden angle of the road, and passing a small plantation, which obstructed the vision towards the left, the British and American armies became visible to one another. The position occupied by the latter, was one of great strength, audcowmandiugatlitude. They were drawn up ^ three tines upon the brow of a hill, having their front arid left flank covered by a branch of the Polo mac, and their right resting upon a thick wood and a deep ravine. This river which may be about the breadth of the Isis at Oxford, flowed between the heights little town of Bladenshurg. 'Across it was thrown a narrow bridge, extending from the chief street in that town to the continuation of the road which passed through the very centre of their position and its right bank, (the bank above which they were drawn up,) was covered with a narrow stripe of willows and large trees, whilst the left was altogether bare low and exposed. Such was the gene ral aspect of their position as at the first glance it presented itself, of which I must endeavor to give a more detailed account that my description of the battle may be in some degree intelligible.” The ot'derof march was conduct-1 hedges, frequently separated one Afield in the most cautious manner* us well from another. 1 his was exactly the he bivouac for the night, after ad- ground on which cavalry could act with nn |. si* miles. This march, advantage, because they might he mam- . __0piers were at length given, open on every side to a considerable ex- and the march began towards Netting-1 tent, although thick groves, instead of Jiam «d as — .j eg y. aDC1 h^hort ia‘ described as extremely I bush behind these groves, totally unper- thougn * - men havi been s0 ceived> ilnd W hen an opportunity offered, fatiguing, board ghjp T h e Lharge the column, before it had time to .{^states that a greater number of prepare for their reception. There author { of the ranks an d fell wera one or two places, indeed, where roendroPP reco u ecta X o have ob- such events were confidently anticipat- bekind.tH" , • any march of ed ; whole rows of paling having been .erved u» the I emnsum, m ny ^ Ued u() from the sides of lhe road, and three t,me *J? ied be9id e« their arms, open spaces left, through rthich several however, c cartridge, a knapsack, | squadrons of horse might gallop, and the •«*» r °uianket^and a change of clothes, consequence was that every mau held with a W»* ei ;’ . h provision8 f or three his breath in expectation, and prepared haversacK, ^ 0 p Kater> Their j himself to form a square in a moment. “"ii^ot 6 disturbed during the It was here, 1 say, that the mounted dri- bivouac was “ violent and copious (vers became particularly useful. They lMghL excepioy ^ | were divided into small parties of six or (mess would permit! to regain their pU In the mean time our column continti ed to advance in the same order which it had hitherto preserved. The road conducted us for about 2 miles in a direc tion parallel with the river, and of con sequence with .the enemy’s line ; when it suddenly turned and led directly to wards the town of Bladenshurg. Being of course ignorant whether this town might not be tilled with American troops, the main body paused here till the ad vanced guard should reconnoitre. The result proved that no opposition was in tended in that quarter, and that the whole ofthe enemy’s army had been withdrawn to the opposite side of the stream whereupon the army ivas again pbt in motion, and in a short time arrived ill the streets of Bladenshurg, and within range of the enemy's artillery. Immediately on our reaching this point, several ol their guns opened upon us and kept up a quick and well directed cannonade, from which, ns ive were again command ed to halt, the men were directed to shelter themselves as much as possible behind the houses. The object of this halt, it was conjectured, was to give the general an opportunity of examining the American line, and of trying the depth of the river, because at present there appeared to be but one practicable mode of attack, by crossing the bridge and ta king the enemy directly in front. To do so, however, exposed as the bridge was, must be attended with bloody con sequences, nor could Ihe delay of a few minutes produce any mischief which the discovery of a ford would uot amply compensate. “ But in this conjecture we were al together mistaken ; for without allow ing time to the column to close its ranks, or to be formed by some of tbe many strag glers who were hurrying, as fast as wea- ces, the order to halt was countermand ed, and the word given to attack, and we immediately pushed on al double quick time towards the head of the bridge.— While we were moving qlongthc street, a continued lire wrs kept up, with some execution, from tflose guns which stood te the left of the road ; but it was not till the bridge was covered with our peo ple that the two gun battery upon the road itself began to play. Then indeed, it also opened, and with tremendous ef fect ; for at the first discharge, almost an entire company was swept down ; but whether it was, that the guns had been previously laid with measured exactness, or that the nerves of the gunners became afterwards unsteady, the succeeding dis charges were much less fatal. The ri flemen likewise now galled us from the wooded bank, with a running tire of mus ketry ; and it was not without trampling upon many of their dead and dying com rades, that the light brigade established itself on the opposite side of the stream.” “ When once there, however, every thing else appeared easy. Wheeling off to the right aud left of the road, they dashed into the thicket and quickly clear ed it ofthe American skirmishers, who falling back with precipitation upon the first line; threw it into'disorder before it hud fired a shot. The consequence was, thatour troops had scarcely shown them selves when the whole of that line gave way, and fled in the greatest confusion, leaving the two guns upon the road iu possession of the victors. But here it must be confessed that the light brigade was guilty of imprudence. Instead of pausing till the rest ofthe ar my came up, they lightened themselves by throwing away their knapsacks and haversacks ; and extending their ranks so as to show an equal front with the e- neuiy, pushed on to the attack of the se cond line. The Americans, however, saw their weakness, and stood firm, and having the whole of their artillery, with the exception of those captured on the road, and the greater pari of their infin ity in this line, they first checked the ardour of the assailants by a heavy lire, and then, in their turn advanced to re cover the ground which was lost. A- gainst this charge, the extended order of the British troops would not permit them to offer an effectual resistance, and they were accordingly borne back to the very thicket upon the river’s brink, where they maintained themselves with deter mined obstancyi'repelling all attempts to drive them through it ; ami frequently following to within a short distance of the cannon’s mdulh, such parts of the ene my’s line as gave way. “ In this state the action continued till the second brigade had likewise crossed and formed upon the right bank of the river ; when the 44th regiment moving to the right, and driving in the skirmish ers, debouched upon the left flauk ofthe Americans and completely turned it. — In that quarter, therefore, the battle was won ; because the rieW militia-men who were stationed there 33 being the least assailable point, when once broken could not be rallied. But oqjheir right the enemy still kept their ground with much resolution ; nor was it till Ihe ani val of the 4th regiment, and advance of the British forces in firm array, to the charge, that they begau to waver.— Then, indeed, seeing their left in full flight, and the 4?ith getting in their Fear, they' lost all order, and dispersed, lea ving clouds of riflemen to cover their re treat, and hastened to conceal tliem- elves in the woods, where it Would have been in vain to follow them, The rout was now general throughout the whole line. The reserve which ought to have supported the main body fled, as scon as those in its l’rbnt began to give way ; tind (he cavalry, instead of char ging the British troops, now scattered in pursuit, turned their horses heads and the slightest resistance—and the left of the main body was broken within half an hour after it was seriously engaged. Of the suitors however, it would be injui- tice.net to speak iu tbe terms which their conduct merits. They were em ployed as gunners, and not only did they serve their guns with a quickness and precisiou which astonished their assail ants, but they stood still till some of them were Actually bayoneted, with fusees in their hands, nor was it till their leader wAs wounded and taken, and they saw themselves deserted on all sides by the soldiers, that they quitted the field.— With respect tot he British army again no |ine of distinction cun be drawn. All did their duty, and none more gallantly than the rest.” »*####* ” Our troops being worn down by fatigue, and of course as ignorant of the country as the Americans were tbe re verse, the pursuit could not be continued to any distance. Neither was it attended with much slaughter. Diving into the recesses ofthe forest, and covering them selves with riflemen, the enemy wore quickly beyond our reach ; and having cavalry to secure even the high road, ton of the lightest of their guns were carried off in their flight. The defeat, however, wAs absolute, and the army which* had been collected for the defence of Washington, was Scattered be- yowl the possibility of at least a re-unioh; md as the distance from Bladenshurg to that city does not exceed four miles, there appeared to be no further obsta cle in the way to prevent its immediate capture. * * * # e * As it was not the intention of the British government to attempt permanent conquest in this part of America, and as the General was well aware that, with a handful of men, he could not pretend to establish himself for any length of time in the enemy’s capital, he determined to lay it under contribution, and to return quietly to thn shipping. Nor was there any thing unworthy of a British officer, in this determination. By all the cus toms of war, whatever public property may chauce to be in ft captured town, becomes confessedly the just spoil ofthe conqueror ; and in thus proposing to ac cept a certain sum of money in lieu of that property, he was showing mercy, ra ther than severity, to the vanquished.— It is true, that if they chose 10 reject his terms, he aod his army would besleprived of their booty ; bccaute, without some more Convenient inode of transporting it than we possessed, even the portable part of the property itself could not be removed. But, on the other hand, there was no difficulty in destroying it, & thus, though we should gain noihing, the A mericAn government would lose prrtba- bly a much greater amount than if they had agreed to purchase its preservation by tfie money demanded. “ Such being the intention of General Ross, he did not march the troops imme diately into the city, but halted them up on a plain in its immediate vicinity, whilst a flag oftruce was sent in with the terms. But whatever his proposal might have been, it ivas not so much as heard ; for scarcely had the parly bearing the flag entered the street, than they were tired upon from the windows of the houses and the horse of the General him self, who accompanied them, was killed. Vouwill easily believe that conduct so unjustifiable, so direct a breach of the law of nations, roused the indignation of every individual, from the General him self down to the private soldier. All thoughts of accommodation were instantly laid aside, the trobps advanced forthwith into the town, aud having first put to the sword all who were found in the boose from which the shots were fired ami re duced it to ashes, they proceeded with out a moment’s delay, to born add de- galloped off, leaving them in undisputed stroy every thing in the most distant de- possession ofthe field, and of ted out of the twenty pieces of artillery. “ This bailie, by which (lie fate ofthe American Capital was decided, began a- lioul orte in the afternoon, and lasted till four. The loss on the part of the Eng lish wAs severe ; out of two-thirds ofthe army which were engaged, upwards of live hundred men were killed and wound ed ; and what rendered it doubly severe was that among these were numbered *c veral. officers of rank and distinction.— Colonel Thornton, who commanded the light brigade ; Lieut. Colonel Wood com manding lhe 85th regiment, and Major Brown, who had led the advanced guard were all severely wounded, and Gen. Ross himself, had a horse shot under him. On the. side ofthe Americans the slaugh ter was not so great. Being in posses sion of a strong position, they were of course less exposed in defending than the others in storming it; and bad ihey con ducted themselves with coolness & reso lution, it is not-conceivable how (he day could have been won. But the fact is, that with the exception of a party of sai lors from the gun boat!, under the com mand of Commodore Barney, no troops could behave worse than they did. The skirmishers were driven in as soon as ut- , tacked ; tUe first fine gave wav without gre^,connected with government. In this general devastation were included the Senate house, the President's palace, an extensive dock and arsenal, barracks for iwo or three thousand men, several large stone houses filled with naval and military stores, some hundreds of cannon of different descriptions, it nearly twen ty thousand stand of small arms. There were also twb or three public rope walks which shared the same fate, a fine frigate pierced for six gnns, aud just ready to be launched, several gun brigs and armed schooners, with a variety of gtln boats and dtmll craft. Thfc powder magazines were of course set on tire, and explod ed with a tremendous orash, throwing down many houses in their vicinity partly by pieces of the walls striking them, and partly by the concussion ofthe air, while quantities of shot, shells, and their breeching. Many, however, being mounted, could not he thus deel with ; these were spiked, uad havief their trunnions knocked*off, were after* wards cast into the bed of the river- “ All this was as it should be, and hafl the arm of vengeance been extended no farther, there would not have been'roogh given for as much as a whisper of disap* probation. But unfortunately it did hot stop here ; a noble library end several printing offices, and all the national ar* chives, wero likewise committed to tklft flames, which though no doubt the pro* party of the government, might better have been spared. It is not bowevet my intention to join the ont-cFy which, will probably be raised against what they will term at once, barbarous and unprofi* table. Far from it, I cannot help admi ring the forbearance and humanity of thqi British troops, since, irritated as they had every right to be, they spared as far as was possible, all private property, not 9 single house in the place being plun* dered or destroyed, except that from which the General’s horse was killed $ & those which were accidentally thrown down by the explosion of the powder magazines. “ While the third brigade was thu* employed, tike rest ofthe army having recalled its stragglers and removed tha wounded into Bladenshurg, began itft march toward Washington. Though that battle Was ended by four o’clock, the sum was set before the different regiments were in a condition to move, conse quently this short journey was perfor* tned io the dark. The work of destruc tion had also began in tire city before they quitted their ground, and the bla zing of the houses, ships and stores, the ruport of exploding magazines, and the crushing of falling roofs, informed them as they proceeded ol what Was going for ward. Yotl can conceive nothing tiuer than the sight which met them as they drew near to the town. The sky was brilliantly illuminated with the different conflagrations, and a dark red light was thrown upon the rOad sufficient to permit each man to view distinctly his comrade’s face. Except the bunting of St. Sebas tians, 1 do not recollect to have witnes sed at any period of my fife, a scene mora striking and sublime. ” Having Advanced as far as the plain* Where the reserve had previously paus ed, the first and second brigades baited, and forming into close column, passed the night in bivouac. At first this was agreeable enough, because the air was mild, and weariness made sip for What was Wanting in comibrt. But towards morning, a violent storm of rain accom panied with thunder and lightning came on, which disturbed the reht of all whd were exposed to it. Yet in spite ofthe disagreeablenesS of getting wet, 1 cannot say that 1 felt disposed to grumble at thtb interruption, for it Appeared that what K had before considered as superlatively sublime, Still wanted this to render it complete. The flashes Of lightning seemed to vie in brilliancy with the flames which burst from the roofs of burning houses, whltk the thunder drowned tha noise of crumbling walls, and was only interrupted py tbe occasional roar of can non, and the etplosion of large depots of gunpowder, as they one by one explo ded. “ I need scarcely obierVe that the con sternation of the inhabitants was com plete, and that to them this was a night of terror. So confident had they been of tbe success of their troops that few of them had dreamt of quitting their housea or abandoning * nor wqj if, till the fugitives from thebattU} began to rusts in, filling every place wijh dismay, that tbe President himself, thought of provi ding for his safety.” ~ , # * » tT* • * « “ When the detachment sent to drs- troy Mr. Madison’s house entered the dining parlour, they found a dinuer table spread, and covers laid for forty guests. Several kinds of wine, in handsome cut glass decanters were cooling on the side board—plate holders stood by the fire place, filled with dishes and plates : knives, forks and spoons were arranged for immediate use ; in short every thing was ready for the entertainment of a cere monious party. Such were the arrange ments of the dining room, whilst in the kitchen were others answerable to them every respect. Spits loaded with joints of various sorts turned before the fire ; pots saucepans, and other culinary utensils stood upon the grate, and all the other requisites for an elegant and sub stantial repast were exactly in a state which indicated that they had been preci pitately and lately abandoned. Y ou will readily imagine that these —. - prepartions were beheld by a party or hand grenades, which could not other-] hungry soldiers with no indifferent eye. vise be rendered useless, were thrown] An elegant dinner, though considerably into the river. In destroying the can- overdressed, was a lniui* A .ki-k sui non, a method was adopted which 1 hail never before witnessed, and which as it was both effectual and expeditious I can not avoid relating. One gun of ruther a small calibre, was pitched upon as the exe cutioner of the rest • and being loaded with ball , the others, overdressed, was a luxury to which few of them, ut least for Some time had been accustomed - aud which after (hu dangers aod fatigues of the day seemed particularly inviting. They sat dewq te it, p.ot indeed intbe most order but with countenances diet and turned to the muzzles off have disgraced a praty of t At v»as fired tfius beat cm*, mic feast j and having